July 8, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is increasing the retention limit for the commercial aggregated large coastal shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark management groups for directed shark limited access permit holders in the Atlantic region from 3 to 45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip as of July 15, 2016.  This adjustment is intended to promote equitable fishing opportunities in the Atlantic region, while allowing majority of quota to be harvested later in the year.  All other retention limits and shark fisheries remain unchanged in the Atlantic region.

The retention limit will remain at 45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip in the Atlantic region through the rest of the 2016 fishing season or until NMFS announces via a notice in the Federal Register another adjustment to the retention limit or a fishery closure.   This retention limit adjustment affects anyone with a directed shark limited access permit fishing for LCS in the Atlantic region.